“The gap between boys and girls is apparent from very early on. The disparities not only exist across the board from kindergarten all the way to college but they are growing over time.” – Ioakim Boutakidis, PhD, Professor of Child and Adolescent Studies at CSU Fullerton
Nationwide, boys are struggling in school, not because they lack potential, but because our educational system does not reflect how boys learn best. Decades of neuroscience confirm that boys’ and girls’ brains develop differently. They process language, emotion, stress, and motivation in different ways, yet most schools, both public and private, continue to rely on teaching models that favor the learning styles more common to girls and not boys.
The result is an emotional and academic crisis for boys as they mature into young men. Boys in elementary through high school are disengaging, being mislabeled, and falling behind academically, emotionally, and developmentally. Boys crave things like structure, leadership opportunities, competition, and experiential applied learning, and one private boarding school on the southern California coast, Army and Navy Academy, is doing just that.
Understanding Why Boys Are Falling Behind
There are four key reasons why males are falling behind in school. Each should be considered when choosing the proper private or public learning environment for a young man entering middle or high school.
1. Developmental Differences
- Boys’ prefrontal cortex matures later than girls, which affects focus, impulse control, verbal reasoning, and organizational skills.
- Boys’ brains develop differently from girls’ in areas governing speech, emotional regulation, impulse control, and sensory processing.
- Boys are naturally more impulsive, more active, and often less verbally expressive, especially at younger ages.
- Boys demonstrate more activity in areas governing physical movement, spatial skills, and stress reaction.
- Higher levels of testosterone in boys often mean increased competitiveness, risk-taking, and assertiveness, while lower levels of oxytocin make boys less driven to please or seek social harmony compared to girls.
2. Educational System and Structure
- In traditional classrooms, the emphasis on rule-following may not align with boys’ active learning styles.
- Boys tend to lag behind in reading and writing in elementary school, impacting scholastic achievement as they progress.
- Two-thirds of students in special education are male. Boys are twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.
- Boys are more likely to receive medication for behavior and to be diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
- In classrooms that don’t support their needs, boys often get punished instead of helped. By nature, boys can be more aggressive unless the energy is channeled in healthy ways.
- The lack of male role models in the classroom means limited positive examples of male conduct and behavior.
- School environments where consideration isn’t given to how boys learn and naturally behave can result in disengagement, poor grades, and disproportionately imposed negative consequences. 72% of all suspensions and expulsions are of boys.
3. Social Factors
- Lack of purpose and social isolation in the classroom can impact motivation and academic performance. This can lead to mental disengagement and even mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression.
4. Impact of the Pandemic
- Unfortunately, we are still feeling the terrible effects of the pandemic when almost all public and most private schools across the country moved from interactive, experiential learning environments to 2-dimensional classrooms with watered-down curricula, and students feeling isolated and struggling to manage their own academic pathway. Male students were disproportionately affected, which resulted in alarming rates of disengagement and learning loss.
- Increased isolation during the pandemic has driven mental health issues to further hinder academic progress in core subjects that are crucial to college admissions, but also to career advancement.
How Army and Navy Academy Addresses the Challenges Boys Face
For over a century, Army and Navy Academy has practiced a unique approach to educate boys. As a college preparatory, military boarding school, every aspect of academics, athletics, leadership training, character development, and campus life has been tailored to help boys ignite a passion for learning, set goals, make good decisions, and master life skills and good habits. Check out the ANA Difference:
Smaller Class Sizes and Individualized Attention
- ANA offers personalized instruction, small classes, and support tailored to boys’ developmental needs. Boys feel seen, understood, and empowered. Whether in the classroom, on the field, or in community service projects, ANA students are immersed in hands-on experiences that keep their brains engaged and their confidence growing.
- ANA understands the neuroscience behind male brain development and applies it to the pedagogy, curriculum, daily schedule, campus culture, and leader development model. This model reflects what boys need to succeed: structure, mentorship, movement, and motivation.
Classroom Methods:
- ANA is designated as a Gurian Center of Excellence following the pedagogical philosophies of renowned educator and author Michael Gurian, a specialist in brain-based learning.
- Teachers use interactive, collaborative lessons that spark curiosity and emphasize teamwork.
- Stronger teacher-student relationships foster academic confidence and engagement.
Higher Standards of Conduct and Positive School Culture
- At Army and Navy Academy, students are expected to follow the honor code and adhere to the core values of honor, respect, responsibility, integrity, compassion, and gratitude.
- Through strong mentorship, students are guided by positive role models and provided with clear pathways to leadership roles on campus. They are encouraged to compete, collaborate, and grow.
- The military framework provides the clarity and discipline boys need, while the value system fosters character, respect, and self-motivation.
- An emphasis on discipline, responsibility, and accountability creates a supportive and structured environment.
Strong Sense of Community and Belonging
- A close-knit environment helps boys build meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose. The single gender approach reduces gender-based distractions and fosters camaraderie and a close brotherhood.
- The Academy provides opportunities for leadership and teamwork in a supportive peer group.
- Brain rest and recreation help boys gain life balance and social connection. Surf sessions, downtime in the Recreation Hall, and “local liberty” in Carlsbad Village offer structured time for socialization and relaxation.
- Exploration and adventure abound at ANA. From “Warrior Aviation” to spring break trips abroad, Harvard Model Congress and weekend excursions, students at ANA stretch themselves intellectually and socially.
Specialized Curriculum and Diverse Extracurriculars
- Whether it’s sports, clubs, or leadership drills, boys are up and moving, keeping their minds active and engaged in class and while pursuing extracurricular interests.
- Programs are tailored to boys’ interests and learning styles, including hands-on and active learning options. Dynamic clubs and electives cultivate interests in aviation, drone piloting, culinary arts, marching band, entrepreneurship, photography, video production, computer programming, robotics, community service, and much more.
- ANA athletics offer 17 different sports, and 4 seasons of play, in a wide range of sports, including, but not limited to: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, water polo, ice hockey, surfing, esports, lacrosse, tennis, cross country, track & field, and golf.
Male Role Models and Mentorship
- A greater presence of male faculty and residential life mentors provides positive examples for students to learn how to develop into emotionally healthy young men of character, set and achieve personal goals, follow an extensive daily schedule, manage their personal needs, athletics, academics, and support their journey from disciplined follower to inspirational leader.
- The wide diversity in faculty and staff allows students to be guided by individuals from various backgrounds. All are trained in the Gurian single gender methods for educating boys.
College and Career Readiness
- Rigorous academics and structured support prepare boys for college. Recent statistics indicate that only 57.6% of male high school graduates attend college vs. 65.3% of females. At the Academy, 100% of students are accepted to college. While not all choose to follow that route, every student applies and is accepted to at least one higher learning institution, which provides access to that opportunity.
- Career-oriented electives, clubs, and academic classes help boys gain practical experience in future careers in areas such as aviation, science, engineering, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, media, art, and other fields.
- The holistic approach to academics, social, and emotional growth helps boys thrive in a structured environment where they learn to be accountable and responsible.
Potential Considerations
- To attend any private school, families need to understand the financial commitment and make a long-term plan.
- The cost of a private school tuition like that at Army and Navy Academy can sometimes be offset in college with academic, athletic, and ROTC scholarships or by attending one of the tuition-free service academies: theUS Military Academy (USMA) West Point, the US Naval Academy (USNA), the US Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and the US Air Force Academy (USAFA).
- Families should consider the Importance of family fit and values and ensure their teen is highly committed to attending the Academy.
- Families should explore the unique needs of their teens when contacting admissions. For instance, ANA offers Learning Strategies for boys with learning differences and ESL/ESOL for international students.
Explore How to Set Your Son Up to Succeed
A private school like Army and Navy Academy offers targeted solutions to help boys overcome educational challenges, find new purpose, confidence and become highly resilient.Army and Navy Academy is a college preparatory school with boarding and day options. Geared exclusively for boys in grades 7-12, we are a Gurian School of Excellence and ranked as one of the best military boarding schools in the U.S.. ANA is located on a beachfront campus in Southern California’s Carlsbad Village.
Sources include: Pew Research, Brown University Health, NIH, Teach Magazine, Gurian Institute
Army & Navy Academy Admission Office:
We encourage families to evaluate their academic, social and other needs, visit the campus, and explore how Army and Navy Academy can support your son’s success.
Phone: 888-762-2338